Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc.



Aug. 31, 1937. E. B. M CONNELL 2,091,645

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING P ETRO LEUM, ETC

Filed Nov. 16, 1954 IEFIN0 OIL OUT I 30L VENT /'V naraR ("PILL-ER Mara/L luff/4.5g,

MOTOR IMPEALER, X IACT O07 INVENTOR. 6/111) m c'annefl Patented Aug. 3 l 1937 z Arrmrus roa axm ormo rii'rnom- Elliott a. McConnell, Cleveiandlieighta, Ohio,

assignor to The Standard Oil Company (Ohio),

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 16, 1934, ScrialNo. 753,338

Claims. (ci. lac-14c) 1 In the preparation of petroleum products, as lubricating oils, and kerosene, it has been a practice to extract undesirable matters from the petroleum by mixing with an extracting liquid and then allowing the liquids to separate to obtain the purified product. In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided an apparatus making DQ sible the extraction of petroleum products and analogous materials, with expedition and thoroughness and a minimum of ground space.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed. In said annexed drawing:-

The sole figure is a semi-schematic vertical sectional view of apparatus contemplated.

In general, this provides a series of compartments, for instance in the form of a tower 2, having partitions. 3, each withan opening for communication, and through which a shaft l may extend so as to serve all compartments, A, B, C, D, etc., with agitating means, for instance impellers 5, which may desirably'be pitched at an angle to provide a desirable rate of progression of the liquid toward the top. An inlet 6 for the oil or the like to be treated is provided near the bottom, and an outlet I for the refined product is located at the top. The treating liquid may be introduced'through a feed inlet 8, pref-' erably at .the feed point of the last compartment of the series. drawal of the extractor spent reagent.

By arranging the series of impellers 5 on the shaft at a corresponding point for each compartment, the feed or supply therefore is facilitated, as well as the mixing of the liquid components. Around each impeller a partial housing Ill may be arranged in order to facilitate the mixing action within, while above and exterior thereto a zone of quiescence and separation of the liquids can occur. The rate of feed is so maintained as to provide an inter-face between the separating liquids near the top of each compartment, the lighter liquidabove, and the heavier below, and thus in rapid succession a quick mixing of the liquid components is brought about, and then a separating in the zone of quiesence. Baflies are desirably arranged. in relation to the An outlet 8 serves for the with opening through the partitions l and the opening through the upper part of the housings l0, and these may comprise baflies ii i2, respectively, above and below each impeller, and for instance just above each opening. These baiiies may be mounted in any convenient way as desired, and it is usually more convenient to mount them movably rather than stationarily, and in the form shown they are carried by the shaft 4. The shaft may be rotated by suitable means, for instance an electric motor at a convenient position, top or bottom as preferred, the motor IS in the drawing being illustrated as on the top of the unit.

v As indicated, the mixed liquids forwarded from the impeller housing III are allowed to separate and stratify in the compartments, and the heavier liquid which is routedgenerally countercurrently to the lighter liquid and travels from top to bottom of the tower, is facilitated in this movement by conduit means I leading from the lower part of each compartment to discharge into the feed of the compartment preceding or below, the conduit being conveniently directed as at ill to the opening in the partition 3 and below the baflie l2. While in certain instances gravitational flow is adequate to forward the heavy liquid fromcompartment to compartment, preferably I incorporate in each conduit an impeller of convenient.

form, for instance a motor-impeller unit 16 at the entrance to the horizontal branch of conduit I l. If each impeller has its own separate motor control, the rate of drive thereof may be closely adiustedto suit the optimum feed conditions for each stage or succession of compartments.

The mode of operation of the appartus will be understood from the foregoing. The liquid to be treated, for example a lubricating oil stock, is fed into the inlet 6, and the treating liquid, for example liquefled sulphur dioxide with or without an admixed organic oil-thinner, is fedin at the upper inlet 8, and the shaft 4 being in rotation, the liquids pass countercurrently through. the tower, the purified oil being discharged at the top outlet 1, and the treating liquid being discharged at the lower outlet 9. In travel through the apparatus, the light or treated liquids, and the heavy or treating liquid, are churned together in thorough admixture in the impeller housing i 0, and passing through the top thereof come into the zone of quiescence in the compartment, for

face at the upper part of the compartment,

2" v whence the heavier liquid or treating solvent proceeds down and out through the outlet 9, while the lighter liquid or oil proceeds on up through the impeller housing In, heavier liquid from the compartment above, D, being simultaneously injected and admixed in the impeller housing. In the zone of quiescence in the compartment above, stratification again occurs, the heavier liquid settling down and outside the impeller housing I0 and being carried off by the conduit H to feed into the compartment below, while the light liquid or oil proceeds on up to the impeller housing, being mixed with the heavy liquid as brought down from the compartment above by the conduit l4, and so on through the series of compartments C, B, A, each providing in succession a thorough mixing of light and heavy liquid, and then a separation an a forwarding of each respectively in its own direction of travel.

In some instances, it is advantageous to apply heat-regulating or temperature-control means, as for instance a jacket I'I which may have inlet and outlet connections I8, IQ, for supply of temperature-regulating liquids, as steam or other. This is of particular advantage for example where operating with lubricating stocks containing wax which is prone to deposit on the container surfaces. By maintaining the temperature of the apparatus at a sufliciently elevated point by means of the temperature-control however, difflculties from wax accumulation and deposit are wholly avoided. With individual temperature control coils in each stage, a regulation of the conditions of each stage may also be had.

As readily apparent, placement of successive mixing zones and zones of quiescence and separation is had,the number of such iii series being as preferred in any given case, and at the same time the ground space requirement is very small.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc., which comprises a chamber having a series of compartments each with an inlet opening,

means for mixing and impelling liquid therethrough, means for supplying a heavy liquid to the last compartment of the series, means for withdrawing the heavy liquid after it has traversed 0 the series, means for supplying a light liquid to the first compartment of the series, means for withdrawing the light liquid after it has traversed the series, housings about selected compartment inlet openings for maintaining a zone of quiescence with separation of the liquids in part of each compartment, and a conduit for returning one separated liquid to the feed of the preceding compartment.

2. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc., which comprises a chamber having a series of compartments each with an inlet opening, means for regulating the temperature thereof, means for mixing and impelling liquid therethrough, means for supplying a heavy liquid to the last compartment of the series, means for supplying a light liquid to the first compartment of the series, means for withdrawing the light liquid after it has traversed the series, housings about selected compartment inlet openings for maintaining a zone of quiescence with separation of the liquids particularly effective in part of each compartment, and a conduit for returning one separated liquid to the feed of the preceding compartment.

3. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc.,

which comprises a chamber having a series of compartments each with an inlet opening, means for mixing and impelling liquid therethrough, means for supplying a heavy liquid to the last compartment of the series, means for withdrawing the heavy liquid after it has traversed the series, means for supplying a light liquid to the first compartment of the series, means for .withdrawing the light liquid after it has traversed the series, an impeller near each inlet opening from one compartment to the next, a housing about each such impeller for maintaining a zone of quiescence with separation of the liquids in part of each compartment, a conduit for returning one separated liquid to the feed of the preceding com- 'baflle above and a housing around each impeller,

a conduit from a space outside such housing to a point of discharge in the feed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and connections in counter-arrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids.

5. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc., which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening, means for regulating the temperature of said chamber, a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, 9. horizontal bafile above and a housing around each impeller, a conduit from a space outside such housing to a point of discharge in thefeed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and connections in counterarrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids.

6. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc., which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening, a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, a bafiie below and above each impeller, a partial housing around each impeller, a conduit from a space outside such housing to a point of discharge in the feed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and connections in counter-arrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids.

7. Apparatus for extracting petroleumyetcn which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening, a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, a temperatureregulating jacket about said chamber, a partial housing around each impeller, a conduit from a space outside such housing to a point of discharge in the feed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and

which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening. a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, a partial housing around each impeller leaving an opening to the compartment, a baifle above such opening, another baille below the impeller in the housing, a conduit from the space outside such housing to a point of discharge in the feed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and connections in counter-arrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids.

9. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc.,

'which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening, a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, a partial housing around each impeller leaving an opening to the compartment, a bailie carried by said shaft above each impeller, a conduit from the space outside such housing to a point of discharge in the feed 01' the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber forintroducing respective liquids, and connections in counter-arrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids. 10. Apparatus for extracting petroleum, etc., which comprises a chamber having a series of partitions each with an opening, a rotatable shaft extending through such openings and carrying an impeller near each partition, a partial housing around each impeller leaving an opening to the compartment, bailles carried by said shaft respectively above and below each impeller, a conduit from the space outside such housing to apoint of discharge in the feed of the preceding impeller, connections respectively at opposite ends of said chamber for introducing respective liquids, and connections ineounter-arrangement at opposite ends of said chamber for withdrawing the respective liquids.

ELLIOT! B. MoCONNELL. 

